Nonprofit Venture Inc. is planning a $10.9 million renovation of the 108,000-square-foot Washington Middle School at 710 Menominee Road in Pontiac.

Washington Middle School in Pontiac could see nearly $11 million renovation

Venture Inc. applying for tax credits, historic designation

Nonprofit plans affordable living complex for seniors

A vacant school in Pontiac could get a makeover as an affordable senior living complex.

Venture Inc., a subsidiary of the nonprofit Oakland Livingston Humane Service Agency, is planning a $10.9 million renovation of the 108,000-square-foot Washington Middle School at 710 Menominee Rd.

Venture aims to preserve the two-story building built in the 1920s, and is looking at low-income housing tax credits and state historic tax credits — if Venture can get it designated as a Michigan historic site — to fund the project, said Brad Michaud, president of Venture and chief financial officer of OLHSA.

Venture would aim to buy the building from its current owner after funding comes through, and then start renovations this fall and expect to finish in late 2019, Michaud said.

The school has been vacant for more than a decade and "the building's in pretty rough shape on the inside," he said.

The process would include installing an elevator, redoing the library to create a community space and knocking down an addition that was built 30-40 years after the original building.

The complex would house 39 apartments for those 55 and older at 30 percent-60 percent of Pontiac's median income — around $14,000-$28,000, Michaud said. Rents would range from $386-$695 per month for one-bedroom units to $463-$835 per month for two-bedroom units, depending on income level.

The project also requires City Council approval and rezoning for multifamily use.

Pontiac-based West Construction Services is the general contractor on the project, while Detroit-based Kraemer Design Group is serving as architect.

The building sits on about 10 acres, but Venture Inc. would only take over the portion directly around the building — the other approximately half of the land would remain with the current owner, Mark Thomas.

Thomas, a co-founder of the Pontiac-based Preservation Interest Group, said he bought the building and land about a year ago from Michael Stephens, who spoke with Crain's about his big plans for the area back in 2014.

Venture has an option to buy the site. Thomas declined to disclose how much he paid for the site or for how much he is planning to sell it.

"It's just a beautiful building. I would love to see it saved," Thomas said. "The Washington school is located between two really beautiful neighborhoods (Seminole Hills and Ottawa Hills), and the world should see them. The world should recognize that."